Development and Verification of an Updated Thermal Model for Cal Poly's Small Thermal Vacuum Chamber
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/3323
Date of Award
6-2026
Degree Name
MS in Aerospace Engineering
Department/Program
Aerospace Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Kira Abercromby
Advisor Department
Aerospace Engineering
Advisor College
College of Engineering
Abstract
This thesis discusses modifications made to the Small Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) Chamber in the Space Environments Laboratory at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and the development and verification of an updated thermal model reflecting these changes. The chamber was redesigned to improve thermal performance, featuring a homogeneous aluminum platen coated with Aeroglaze Z306 to enhance radiative heat transfer, along with expanded data acquisition capabilities for temperature and pressure measurements.
A new thermal model of the chamber was developed in SolidWorks using a finite element approach. The model incorporates conductive and radiative heat transfer mechanisms and is configured to predict steady-state temperature distributions within the chamber. Experimental testing was conducted across a range of heating and cooling conditions, including tests with and without radiative test articles, to validate model accuracy.
Results show that the thermal model predicts chamber temperatures within 10°C of experimental measurements for most test cases, meeting the validation criteria defined in this thesis. Greater deviations were observed during extreme cooling conditions, where spatial temperature variations in the cooling shroud reduced the accuracy of simplified boundary condition assumptions. Refinement of the model to incorporate non-uniform boundary conditions significantly improved agreement with experimental data, resulting in a maximum deviation from experimental results of 7°C.
Overall, the modified chamber demonstrates improved thermal stability and expanded testing capability, while the validated thermal model provides a reliable tool for predicting chamber performance and supporting future thermal vacuum testing efforts.